End zone: Toledo 11-15

11/15/2012

BY RYAN AUTULLOBLADE SPORTS WRITER

It's looking like the Rockets might be heading to Detroit.

For the Mid-American Conference championship game? Heck, you know more than me. This column was due several hours before the conclusion of Wednesday's game against Northern Illinois that figured to deliver the winner of the West division.

I'm talking about the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl at Ford Field, of which Toledo is a logical choice. Place yourself in the room of the selection committee as they consider which teams to headline the week. Their biggest draw, a team from the Big Ten, isn't coming. Because of a liar at Ohio State, a felon at Penn State, and crummy play in the conference, the Big Ten is short enough bowl eligible teams to send one to Detroit.

Thus, the suits representing the Pizza Pizza Bowl need to make a splash with their MAC selection. Fortunately for them they have first pick of ingredients among the bowls affiliated with the league. Toledo, if for no other reason than proximity, makes the most sense. The best way to ensure a decent turnout the day after Christmas is to look to the program whose fan base must travel the shortest distance.

Even the appeal of Kent State, which will end a 40-year bowl drought, doesn't seem to stack up.